14.
Gibbs found his way blocked by two police cars. Told he couldn't drive any closer to his intended destination, he pulled over and parked half onto the sidewalk. Ignoring Ziva's amused grin, he got out of vehicle and made his way through the police, paramedics, and security personnel milling about the building. Ziva had to move quickly to keep up with the aggravated agent.
Gibbs was stopped before he could step into the building. "NCIS. What's going on here?" He flashed his id.
"NCIS, huh? One of your boys got himself involved in a shooting."
"Who?" Ziva asked, having searched the crowd for McGee without success.
"Don't know. Paramedics are up there now. It's the top floor."
Gibbs and Ziva moved quickly across the marble foyer to the bank of elevators, slipping into the express with a dour man in a dark grey suit. He pointedly ignored them as the elevator rose silently to the executive suite.
The doors slid open with virtually no noise. The stranger pushed past them, heading for the door through which most of the people seemed to be passing. Gibbs followed along, Ziva on his heels.
"Who is in charge here? Why is my client still here?" The man revealed himself as Frank DiNozzo's attorney.
Gibbs scoped out the room, finding a handcuffed Derek Terlizzi sitting in the far left corner being patched up by paramedics. McGee was standing near enough to keep him under observation, yet his real attention appeared to be on his partner who was leaning forward in his chair, his head hanging down. Frank DiNozzo was behind his raised desk, speaking with his attorney.
"McGee, DiNozzo. Report."
Tim McGee waited for Tony to speak, but the older agent never moved. He quickly brought Gibbs up to speed on everything that had occurred since Tony had walked into the hotel suite after fleeing the hospital. "Tony let me know where Terlizzi was and what he was carrying. I came into the room and ordered him to drop his weapon."
Tony spoke at last. "Derek was startled, started to turn around. I took him down."
"Yeah, real hard. I think Tony needs to go back to the hospital." McGee indicated flecks of blood on the other man's shirt. "He might need to be stitched back up again."
"I'm okay."
"Hospital, DiNozzo." Taking pity on the dejected man, Gibbs dropped his hand on Tony's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I promise, if they try and keep you, I'll help you escape."
That earned a weak chuckle. "I just want to get out of here, boss."
Gibbs noticed something else when Tony finally raised his head. There was a glowing red mark on his face. "What happened to you?"
"What?" Tony dropped his head again, a flush welling up to hide the hand-shaped mark.
"His father slapped him, boss. Hard," Tim said.
"Tony, do you want me to…" Ziva began to offer.
"No! No, Ziva, but thanks. He was upset." Tony touched the spot gently.
"Upset about what?"
"Doesn't matter, Gibbs."
"He assaulted a federal officer. He assaulted you. It damn well does matter."
"Tony, tell him or I will." McGee patted his partner on his back before moving to where the paramedics were finishing up on Terlizzi.
"Well, DiNozzo?" Gibbs growled.
"My father wasn't pleased when I insisted on calling the police. He preferred to take care of this all himself."
"Ziva, take DiNozzo back to the hospital."
"Boss," Tony began to whine.
"Hospital. Now."
"Come with me, Tony. Maybe they will give you a lollipop if you are good." Ziva gently helped Tony to his feet.
Once they were gone from the room, Gibbs stalked across the room to where the elder DiNozzo sat.
"And you are?" The attorney asked.
"This is Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. He is my son's superior."
"My client has no interest in speaking with you."
"He doesn't have to say a word. In fact, all I want him to do is listen." Gibbs leaned down to stare in Frank DiNozzo's face. "You're going down. I don't know how or when, but trust me, it'll happen. That man over there," he pointed to Derek Terlizzi, "tried to kill your son because of you. It's my belief that you had your wife murdered. I'm gonna make certain that you pay for that." He rose to his feet, ignoring the sputtering of the attorney, and walking to where McGee was speaking with FBI Agent Mendez.
"Thanks for coming, Carlos. I want this man booked on attempted murder of a federal officer, two counts."
"Excuse me, I'm Sheriff Roberts. I'm in charge here."
Gibbs and Mendez turned as one to glare at the overweight local sheriff.
"Actually, Sheriff Roberts, assault on a federal officer is a federal offense and as such, falls into the FBI's bailiwick. We'll be taking custody of Mr. Terlizzi. Of course, if you have anything that you would like to add, we will be glad to turn him over to you…after he's faced his federal charges."
Gibbs wasn't surprised to see the Sheriff backing off. He looked at Terlizzi. "You're looking at some hard time. If you might want to see daylight sometime before you're too old to care, consider giving up your boss. I know Agent Mendez will be willing to listen, as will a police commissioner in New York."
"I…" Derek saw how Frank DiNozzo was reacting to having his step-son, his right hand man, under arrest. It was as if he didn't exist. "I'll consider that."
"Good." Gibbs shook Mendez's hand. "Let's go, McGee."
As the two men left the crowded office, McGee cleared his throat. "Boss, will he pay?"
"Frank DiNozzo?"
"Yeah. I mean, he's made Tony's life a living hell for years."
"That ends now. Don't worry about it."
McGee nodded, knowing that Gibbs would protect his agent from retaliation. "Good."